The Skoda Vision O Concept Is a Love Letter to Big Wagons

Crossovers and SUVs may reign supreme in most parts of the world, but wagons still matter in Europe. Since 2016, the growing popularity of the Octavia Combi and Superb Combi has made Skoda the best-selling brand on the continent in this segment. With the Vision O concept, the Czech automaker, part of the Volkswagen Group, is pledging to keep estates alive in the electric era. While the practical body style remains familiar, nearly everything else marks a significant departure from today’s gas-powered cars.

Traditionally, Skoda has played it safe with exterior designs to appeal to a broad customer base, but its latest concept is daring from every angle. The Vision O looks far more striking than the similarly sized Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer, opting for sharper edges instead of curved surfaces. It doesn’t even feature a grille, but rather a so-called “tech-loop mask.” This EV fully embraces minimalist design with fewer creases, slimmer lights, and door handles that sit flush with the smooth bodywork.

At 4,850 millimeters (191 inches) long, it’s larger than the Octavia Combi but still slightly shorter than the Superb Combi. It trumps both in width, measuring a generous 1,900 millimeters (74.8 inches). Like most EVs, which typically sit higher than their combustion-engine counterparts due to the bulky battery, the Vision O is no exception. It stands 1,500 millimeters (59 inches) tall and rides on large, aero-optimized wheels.

The panoramic roof extends all the way to the rear, making the electric wagon appear even bigger. Suicide rear doors may look cool, but it’s hard to imagine Skoda carrying over the rear-hinged setup to the production model. A nearly flat roofline maximizes interior space, providing 650 liters (23 cubic feet) of cargo volume with the rear seats up. Folding the rear bench expands capacity to more than 1,700 liters (60 cubic feet).

Inside, the cavernous cabin has little in common with today’s Skoda models. A rectangular screen measuring over 1.2 meters (47.2 inches) stretches almost the entire width of the dashboard. It brings to mind the new BMW iX3, although that crossover technically projects the image rather than using a screen.

The Vision O’s jumbo-sized vertical display hasn’t swallowed all physical controls, as a handful of switches remain for adjusting temperature and fan speed. Nevertheless, as the owner of a 2017 Octavia, it pains me to see the direction Skoda is taking by migrating access to most functions to the screen. Seeing the glass half full, at least there’s still a big dial below the infotainment. The floating center console also houses a pair of magnetic wireless charging pods, eliminating the hassle of cables.

Technical specifications beyond dimensions remain unknown. Skoda hasn’t said whether the Vision O is related to the ID.7 Tourer by sharing the MEB architecture. If not, the production model might instead adopt SSP, the upcoming platform set to underpin the next-generation, electric-only Golf in 2029. In any case, the road-going Octavia is expected to feature a single-motor, rear-wheel drive as standard, with dual-motor all-wheel drive available as an option.

Given the concept’s name, it’s clearly a vision of the Octavia’s future. Although Skoda doesn’t explicitly say the Vision O previews the next-generation Octavia in electric guise, the connection is easy to make. When the EV eventually arrives, it’s unlikely to mark the end of the combustion-engine model. After all, the Octavia has been the brand’s best-selling car since its reintroduction in 1996.

It’s hard to imagine Skoda abandoning the ICE version so soon and betting everything on a production model inspired by this boldly styled concept. Whether features like the Vision O’s built-in fridge or portable speaker will actually reach production remains to be seen, though they would make for neat Simply Clever touches.